Did Darth Vader Do תשובה?

This summer, the Harry Potter movie series came to its conclusion. After reading all of the books and seeing all of the movies, I am sad that the saga has come to an end. It reminds me of how I felt many years ago when the original STAR WARS trilogy (episodes 4-6) came and went and then again when the prequels (episodes 1-3) gave us fans the back story of Darth Vader many years later. After seeing Episode 3 in the theater, I knew that it was the last STAR WARS movie I would ever see. I felt the same way after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2.

Both the Harry Potter and STAR WARS series had fantastic villains. Lord Voldemort, Professor Snape (at least until the last chapters of the series) and Bellatrix Lestrange stand toe-to-toe with Darth Vader and the Emperor. They are all extremely dark characters whom readers and viewers find great joy in seeing ultimately defeated. However, there is a significant difference between the main villains in the two series. In Harry Potter, Lord Voldemort is evil until his very last breath. He never finds love and is driven by fear, hatred, and lust for power until he is finally destroyed. On the other hand, we have Darth Vader of STAR WARS. Similar to Tom Riddle (who becomes Lord Voldemort), it is in his younger years that Vader discovers the extent of his powers and "goes dark." His entire life is spent as a master of the Dark Side of the Force. However, when the crucial moment comes for him to choose between the Dark Side (his master the Emperor) and the Jedi (his own son), Vader finds love and sacrifices his own life to save his son, the Jedi, and the free world.

In examining the actions of Darth Vader at the end of STAR WARS: Episode 6 (The Return of the Jedi) through a Jewish lens, one may think of the question...Did Darth Vader Do תשובה?

Before considering an answer to the question, watch the following video clips, capturing "highlights" of the life of Darth Vader.

Annakin Skywalker goes to the Dark Side

The Fall of Annakin Skywalker; The Rise of Darth Vader

Darth Vader chooses good over evil in the end.

There are many teachings on the subject of תשובה. Among the very most well-knows ones are the steps prescribed by Rambam (Maimonides). Here they are as a list. You will use these steps when you analyze the actions of Darth Vader.

Rambam's Seven Steps of תשובה

1. Understanding - Understanding that one has done something wrong
2. Stopping - Stopping the improper behavior
3. Resolving - Resolving not to repeat the improper behavior
4. Regretting - Genuinely regretting the improper behavior
5. Requesting Forgiveness - Either from God in prayer or from the person, requesting forgiveness for the improper behavior
6. Committing/Promising - Making a verbal commitment never to repeat the same improper behavior
7. Success - When presented with the same situation again, the improper behavior is not repeated.

Four Quotations from Our Rabbis about תשובה

TEXT 1: Reb Simcha Bunim said: "True repentenace does not occur when you say you're sorry. True repentence occurs when you find yourself in the same situation and you do not sin."	TEXT 2: "If people's sins die with them, they can receive complete pardon. However, if the fruit of their sins remains after their death, they cannot be completely forgiven." Talmud Yerushalmi, Shabbat 9:3
TEXT 3: There are five kinds of people whose sins have no easy path to forgiveness: One who sins many ways One who repents many times for the same sin. One who sins in a sinless time period. One who sins in order to repent. One who causes the holy name to be profaned. Avot D'Rabbi Natan	TEXT 4:There was a wicked man whose wicked deeds were widely known. Once, however, he was seen to perform a deed which seemed to be a positive and good action, and yet it contained a slight possibility of being evil. The right thing to do is be careful and wary of him and not believe that it is good since it contains the possibility of being evil. Maimonides, Commentary on Pirkei Avot.

Questions:

1) Think about what Darth Vader did to the Emperor and then said to his son before he died. Now, carefully read Rambam's 7 steps of t'shuva. How many of the steps do you think Darth Vader completed? Please list them and explain your answer.

2) Read TEXT 1 above. If Darth Vader was to go to Reb Simcha Bunim and ask him if he had done t'shuva, what would he say? Explain your answer.

3) Did the fruit of Darth Vader's sins die with him or did they last beyond his death?

4) Read TEXT 3. Does Darth Vader fall into any of the categories of people described in this text? Would Darth Vader have an easy path to forgiveness? Explain.

5) Read TEXT 4. Would Maimonides trust or question Darth Vader's motives and behavior at the end of his life?

6) George Lucas (the director of the STAR WARS movies) has an opinion about whether or not Darth Vader did t'shuva, even it he didn't intend to tell us. Watch the following clip and see how he "voices" his opinion. The Jedi masters reappear. Do you agree or disagree with George Lucas?